ECC 2:3 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Καὶ κατεσκεψάμην εἰ ἡ καρδία μου ἑλκύσει ὡς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου, καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ, καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπʼ εὐφροσύνην, ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν.
(Kai kateskepsamaʸn ei haʸ kardia mou helkusei hōs oinon taʸn sarka mou, kai kardia mou hōdaʸgaʸsen en sofia, kai tou krataʸsai epʼ eufrosunaʸn, heōs hou idō poion to agathon tois huiois tōn anthrōpōn, ho poiaʸsousin hupo ton haʸlion, arithmon haʸmerōn zōaʸs autōn. )

BrTr And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.

ULT I explored in my heart how to drag my flesh with wine—but my heart was guiding me in wisdom—and how to grasp folly until I could see whether this is good for the sons of humanity that they might do under the heavens during the number of the days of their lives.

UST So, after thinking a lot about it, I decided to cheer myself up by drinking a lot of wine. While I was still trying to be wise, I acted stupidly. I tried to learn what people can do to be happy during the short time that they are alive on the earth.

BSB § I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

OEB I turned over in my mind how to cheer my senses with wine – preserving at the same time, however, my habitual wisdom – and how to embrace folly, until I should discover what satisfaction may be procured by men under heaven during the days

WEBBE I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine
⇔ (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom)
⇔ and the effects of behaving foolishly,
⇔ so that I might discover what is profitable
⇔ for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

LSV I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly until I see where this [is]—the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.

FBV Then I used my mind to examine the attraction[fn] of wine to my body. My mind still guiding me with wisdom, I took it until I acted like a fool,[fn] so that I might see whether this was good for people to do during their time here.

2:3 The word used means to “draw” or “attract.”

2:3 Some believe that this means the Teacher became drunk in this “experiment.” The phrase is literally, “I grasped (it) until folly.”

T4T So, after thinking a lot about it, I decided to ◄cheer myself/cause myself to be happy► by drinking a lot of wine. So while I was still trying to be wise, I decided to do things that many people do to be happy during the short time that they are alive on the earth.

LEB I also explored[fn] the effects of indulging my flesh[fn] with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, I investigated[fn] folly so that I might discover what is good under heaven[fn] for humans[fn] to do during the days of their lives.[fn]
¶

2:3 Literally “I searched in my mind”

2:3 Literally “to cheer my flesh”

2:3 Literally “laid hold of”

2:3 Follows MT; two medieval Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Peshitta read, “under the sun,” cf. 1:3, 9, etc.

2:3 Literally “the sons of the man”

2:3 Literally “the number of the days of their lives”

BBE I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.

Moff No Moff ECC book available

JPS I searched in my heart how to pamper my flesh with wine, and, my heart conducting itself with wisdom, how yet to lay hold on folly, till I might see which it was best for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven the few days of their life.

ASV I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

DRA I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.

YLT I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where [is] this — the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.

Drby I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.

RV I searched in mine heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, mine heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Wbstr I sought in my heart, to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

KJB-1769 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.[fn][fn]

2.3 to give…: Heb. to draw my flesh with wine

2.3 all…: Heb. the number of the days of their life

KJB-1611 [fn][fn][fn]I sought in mine heart to giue my selfe vnto wine, (yet acquainting mine heart with wisedome) and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sonnes of men, which they should doe vnder the heauen all the dayes of their life.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

2:3 Chap. 1. 17.

2:3 Hebr. to draw my flesh with wine.

2:3 Hebr. the number of the dayes of their life.

Bshps So I thought in my heart to geue my fleshe vnto wine, and agayne to apply my mynde vnto wisdome, and to comprehende foolishnesse: vntyll the tyme that among all the thynges which are vnder the sunne, I myght see what were best for men to do so long as they liue vnder heauen.
(So I thought in my heart to give my flesh unto wine, and again to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehende foolishness: until the time that among all the things which are under the sun, I might see what were best for men to do so long as they live under heaven.)

Gnva I sought in mine heart to giue my selfe to wine, and to leade mine heart in wisdome, and to take holde of follie, till I might see where is that goodnesse of the children of men, which they enioy vnder the sunne: the whole nomber of the dayes of their life.
(I sought in mine heart to give myself to wine, and to leade mine heart in wisdom, and to take hold of follie, till I might see where is that goodness of the children of men, which they enioy under the sunne: the whole number of the days of their life. )

Cvdl So I thought in my herte, to withdrawe my flesh from wyne, to applye my mynde vnto wy?dome, and to comprehede foolishnes vntill the tyme that (amonge all ye thinges which are vnder ye Sonne) I might se what were best for men to do, so longe as they lyue vnder heauen.
(So I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, to applye my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehede foolishnes until the time that (amonge all ye/you_all things which are under ye/you_all Sonne) I might see what were best for men to do, so long as they live under heaven.)

Wycl I thouyte in myn herte to withdrawe my fleisch fro wyn, that Y schulde lede ouer my soule to wisdom, and that Y schulde eschewe foli, til Y schulde se, what were profitable to the sones of men; in which dede the noumbre of daies of her lijf vndur the sunne is nedeful.
(I thought in mine heart to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I should lead over my soul to wisdom, and that I should eschewe foli, till I should se, what were profitable to the sons of men; in which dede the number of days of her life under the sun is needful.)

Luth Da dachte ich in meinem Herzen, meinen Leib vom Wein zu ziehen und mein Herz zur Weisheit zu ziehen, daß ich ergriffe, was Torheit ist, bis ich lernete, was den Menschen gut wäre, das sie tun sollten, solange sie unter dem Himmel leben.
(So dachte I in my hearts, my body from_the wine to ziehen and my heart to Weisheit to ziehen, that I ergriffe, what/which Torheit is, until I lernete, what/which the Menschen good wäre, the they/she/them do/put sollten, solange they/she/them under to_him heaven life.)

ClVg Cogitavi in corde meo abstrahere a vino carnem meam, ut animam meam transferrem ad sapientiam, devitaremque stultitiam, donec viderem quid esset utile filiis hominum, quo facto opus est sub sole numero dierum vitæ suæ.[fn]
(Cogitavi in corde mine abstrahere from vino carnem mine, as animam meam transferrem to wisdom, devitaremque stultitiam, until viderem quid was utile childrens of_men, quo facto opus it_is under sole number dierum of_life suæ. )

2.3 Cogitavi in corde. ID. Ebrietas, etc., usque ad quid vitandum.

2.3 Cogitavi in corde. ID. Ebrietas, etc., until to quid vitandum.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) I explored in my heart

(Some words not found in UHB: explored in/on/at/with,mind,my to,cheer in/on/at/with,wine DOM body,my and,mind,my guiding in/on/at/with,wisdom and,to,lay_hold in/on/at/with,folly until which/who see where? this good for,sons the=humankind which/who do below/instead_of the=heavens few days_of lives,their )

This speaks of thinking hard for a long time as if it were exploring. Also, the author speaks of his feelings and his thoughts as if they were his “heart.” Alternate translation: “I thought hard about” (See also: figs-metonymy)

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence 0) to gratify my desires with wine

The word “desires” may be expressed as a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: “to use wine to make myself happy”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

(Occurrence 0) I let my mind guide me with wisdom

Here the author speaks of using the wisdom that he had been taught to guide himself as if this wisdom were a person who guided him. Alternate translation: “I thought about the things that wise people had taught me”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

(Occurrence 0) under heaven

This refers to things that are done on earth. Alternate translation: “on the earth”

(Occurrence 0) during the days of their lives

Alternate translation: “during the time that they are alive”

Parallel ECC 2:3